Navigating registry paperwork can feel like decoding a secret language. This guide breaks down the official awards, titles, and genetic designations used on pedigrees.

For the most up-to-date registry guidelines, visit the American Dairy Goat Association Website.

📋 Registry Evaluation Systems

Program & AcronymDefinition & DetailsDHIR (ADGA & AGS)

Dairy Herd Improvement Registry: A standardized national system overseen by the USDA to officially track and evaluate milk production records.LA (ADGA)

Linear Appraisal: An objective evaluation where a trained classifier scores individual physical traits against a set breed standard. This helps breeders select for structural correctness and long-term durability.

Classification(AGS)AGS Conformation Assessment: Similar to Linear Appraisal, this system judges an animal against an ideal scorecard rather than against other goats in a show ring. Does must have refreshed at least twice; bucks must be at least 18 months old.

Scoring Tiers:
• Excellent (90–100)
• Very Good (85–89.9)
• Good Plus (80–84.9 / Standard)
• Good (70–79.9)
• Fair (60–69.9)
• Poor (Under 60)

🏆 Show Bench & Production Titles

Title CodesDescription & RequirementsGrand ChampionClass Winner: The top-placing animal chosen from all first-place winners within a specific breed class at a sanctioned event.CH (ADGA) / MCH (AGS)

Permanent Grand Champion: A permanent title awarded after an animal wins three Grand Champion titles under official organizational guidelines.GCH (ADGA) / ARMCH (AGS)

Advanced Registry Grand Champion: A permanent champion that has also met the strict minimum milk production requirements for the Advanced Registry or Star Volume.AR (ADGA & AGS)

Advanced Registry: A designation for does that hit specific baseline benchmarks for milk volume, butterfat, or protein while on an official production test.ST (ADGA & AGS)Star Program: A production testing tier utilizing owner-sampler methods. Note: Star numbers do not carry over onto official AGS registration paperwork.

🧬 Genetic Assessment Tools

Metric IndexPurpose & CriteriaPTAPotential Transmitting Ability: A statistical forecast of the genetic traits an animal is expected to pass on to its kids, calculated using family production and conformation history.

PTIProduction Type Index: A blended score combining milk yields and body structure.
• PTI21: Places a heavier emphasis on milk production.
• PTI12: Places a heavier emphasis on physical conformation.

ETAEstimated Transmitting Ability: A predictive tool that averages the parent indexes and applies a breed baseline filter. This ranks a young animal's genetic potential before they ever reproduce (available as ETA21 or ETA12).

EliteTop Tier Rating: Identifies the absolute top genetic tier of the national herd.
• Bucks: Must rank in the top 15% (86th percentile or higher) based on daughter performance data.
• Does: Must rank in the top 5% (96th percentile or higher) and be actively living when the list is published.

SGSuperior Genetics: Honors individual goats showing clear genetic superiority. The animal must land in the top 14% (86th percentile) of the breed at least once via production indexes. Does must have both official production records and a physical appraisal.

SGCHPremium Combination: Indicates the animal is both a Permanent Grand Champion and a Superior Genetics award winner.

⭐️ Star Certifications

SymbolsCriteria for Does & Bucks*M (ADGA) / D (AGS)Star Doe: Earned through personal milk test performance or family merit based on one of these rules:
1. Producing three Star Doe or Advanced Registry daughters.
2. Producing two verified Plus Bucks.
3. Producing one Advanced Registry son and one Plus Buck.
4. Producing one Advanced Registry son and two Star/AR daughters.
5. Producing one Plus Buck and two Star/AR daughters.XM (ADGA) / X*D (AGS)

Generation Star Milker: The prefix number denotes successive generations of star-earning females (e.g., 2*M means a second-generation milking star holder).+B (ADGA) / +S (AGS)

Plus Buck: A sire that proves his worth through his offspring by meeting one of these marks:
1. Siring three Star daughters out of three different dams.
2. Siring two Plus sons.
3. Siring one Advanced Registry son and one Plus son.
4. Siring one Advanced Registry son and two Star/AR daughters.
5. Siring one Plus son and two Star/AR daughters.++B (ADGA) / ++S (AGS)

Double Plus Buck: A sire who has produced at least two Plus/AR sons and three Star/AR daughters.*B (ADGA) / S(AGS)Star Buck: A title based purely on the immediate parents' stellar credentials:
1. His dam is a qualifying AR or Star Doe, and his sire is an AR Sire, Star Buck, or Plus Buck.
2. His dam is a qualifying AR or Star Doe, and his paternal grandmother is an AR Doe with qualifying milk and butterfat records.

+B / ++*BCombination Buck: Awarded to a buck who inherited a Star status from his parents andearned his Plus status through the quality of his offspring.